Last week's advantage/disadvantage record: 4-1
Must See Sports 2012 record (excluding series): 72-40
Advantage/disadvantage record in series, 2012: 11-7-1
Friday, August 17
NFL
Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens
Preseason gridiron action should be hard hitting tonight. Just because it doesn’t count, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t matter. Baltimore’s defense is going to hit and hit hard. Detroit is going to sling the ball around. This should be good.
This should be a litmus test for whether or not the aging, Terrell Suggs-less Ravens still have enough fuel in the tank to continue to be one of the most feared and successful defenses in the league. It should also provide an excellent tune-up opportunity for Lions quarterback Matt Stafford and a chance to see if the Lions’ running game (and its depth) has improved at all over 2011.
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| Can Ray Lewis take another year? OR can offenses take another year of Ray-Ray? 1 |
Saturday, August 18
NFL
New York Giants at New York Jets
Big exhibition in the Big Apple…. Neither Mark Sanchez nor Tim Tebow looked particularly impressive for Gang Green in their preseason debut against the Cincinnati Bengals. In fact, the best looking Jets signal caller, in my opinion, was third stringer Greg McElroy.
That has to change if the Jets have any chance at seriously competing for the Super Bowl, or even a playoff berth. They will face an aging Giants defense that was a Jekyll and Hyde act last year. Fortunately, the Hyde portion was over before the playoffs began. The problem, however, is that I don’t see any power moves or draft picks that the Giants made to truly solidify the softer spots in the defense or boost depth. Perhaps someone will stand out in exhibition play.
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| Will the new look, slimmed down Rex Ryan get more wins from his team after his big losses on the scale? 2 |
Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves
Aaron Harang (8-7, 3.76 ERA) – Dodgers vs Ben Sheets (4-2, 2.13 ERA)
We are at the “every game counts” point in the 2012 Major League Baseball season. The Dodgers are in a dead heat with the San Francisco Giants for the National League West lead while the Braves are in second place in the N.L. East, but still within striking distance of the Washington Nationals.
This game could tilt either way and this series could tilt either way. I think that the Dodgers have the slightest advantages in the pitching matchups. However, the game is not played on paper. This should be a very competitive series.
Advantages – Game: Dodgers, Series: Dodgers
Sunday, August 19
NFL
Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers
We will get another look at Colts rookie quarterback Andrew Luck, who looked quite solid in his preseason debut. Meanwhile, the Steelers will continue to try to make a run to their fourth super Bowl appearance in eight years. With the release and retirement of Hines Ward and the holdout of Mike Wallace, Pro Bowl quarterback Ben Roethlisberger could be entering the season with some uncertainty of who his go to targets will be.
MLB
Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees
Josh Beckett (5-10, 5.19 ERA) – Red Sox vs Hiroki Kuroda (11-8, 3.06 ERA, 121 Ks) – Yankees
The biggest rivalry in baseball is on deck again. But the wheels appear to be completely falling off of the Red Sox’s wagon while the Yankees are getting hot at the right time. Josh Beckett has been a big part of the BoSox’s problem. He simply has not given them the performances on the hill that the team has needed to win. Hiroki Kuroda, on the other hand, has been as smooth model of consistency this season.
This could be the Red Sox last stand in the chase for the final Wild Card spot. I sound like a broken record: the talent is there, particularly on offense, but the pitchers need to tighten up and the players need to grow up.
Advantages – Game: Yankees, Series: Yankees
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| I understand that players want to relate to the fans, but Beckett and the other pitchers may have taken that too far last season. 3 |
Monday, August 20
NFL
Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots
It is not all that far fetched to suggest that this could be a Super Bowl preview. Late in the 2011 season, the Philadelphia Eagles began to look like the “Dream Team” that former backup Vince Young labeled the Eagles last preseason. By most accounts, the team has come together and gelled substantially since last year. In spite of Head Coach Andy Reid enduring personal tragedy, the loss of his 29 year old son, the Eagles are in as good a position as any NFC team to win the conference.
The Patriots appear to be ready to pick up where they left off last season, when they were just a minute away from winning the Super Bowl. The Pats secondary could have been made of Swiss cheese last year and may have improved. Last season, they snapped a 16 year old record for most passing yards given up in a season, last in the AFC in pass defense. The Eagles starters, and reserves for that matter, should offer a litmus test for how much progress coach Bill Belichick and staff have made in filling that hole.
| Two different QBs...two different coaches...one goal. 4 |
MLB
San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers
Madison Bumgarner (13-7, 2.97 ERA, 150 Ks) – Giants vs Clayton Kershaw (11-6, 2.90 ERA, 165) – Dodgers
This is another series that is too close to call. I think that the scales tip ever so slightly toward the Dodgers because they are at home, they are playing well, and their newly acquired bats – shortstop Hanley Ramirez (.260, 16 HR, 71 RBI, batting .358 in August) and outfielder Shane Victorino (.263, 10 HR, 46 RBI, .316 average since the All-Star break) – have given them the extra life they have needed offensively.
The Giants also have a major hole to fill, having lost National League MVP candidate Melky Cabrera (.346, 11 HR, 60 RBI) to a 50 game suspension for having an abnormally high testosterone level. The Giants bats left much to be desired as a team, even with Cabrera in the lineup. Recently acquired outfielder Hunter Pence (.259, 18 HR, 70 RBI) will have to step up to fill in the gap left by Cabrera’s suspension or the Dodgers will pull away from the Giants in the West division race by the start of September.
Advantages – Game: Dodgers, Series: Dodgers
Tuesday, August 21
MLB
Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals
Paul Maholm (11-7, 3.39 ERA) – Braves vs Stephen Strasburg (14-5, 2.91 ERA, 173 Ks) – Nationals
This is another series with very tight pitching matchups. The Braves are capable of taking this series. However, the series is being played in D.C. and the Nationals pitchers slated to start have been somewhat hotter of late. The Braves have to unload everything they have in the tank as a series loss could make the prospect of the Braves catching the Nats in the N.L. East race very difficult. A sweep by Washington could put the race out of reach before September begins. On the other hand, a Braves sweep will make the race a dogfight. The pitching matchups are so close that any combination of the aforementioned could occur. That is what makes this nationally televised game (MLB Network) a must see.
Advantages - Game: Nationals, Series: Nationals
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| The Nationals plan to use Strasburg sparingly for the remainder of the season. Come see him while you can! 5 |
Wednesday, August 22
MLB
New York Yankees at Chicago White Sox
Phil Hughes (11-10, 4.44 ERA) – Yankees vs Chris Sale – White Sox (14-3, 2.60 ERA, 132 Ks)
The Yankees are truly running a gauntlet of important series. After facing their bitter rival, the Red Sox, the Yanks get to face the American League Central division leading Chicago White Sox in a potential playoffs preview. Chris Sale has been pitching very well of late while Phil Hughes has been…himself. You just don’t know which Phil Hughes will show up. Still, I like New York to take the other two games in this series.
Advantages – Game: White Sox, Series: Yankees
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| Chris Sale has only lost one decision since May 17th (14 games started). 6 |
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2) Image from www.nypost.com
3) Image from www.boston.com
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